So I was bombing my local hill on Monday and having a complete blast until I hit some of our famous East Coast ice on a double black diamond run, ate shit, even with an MTX board, and landed with the full force of impact directly on my shoulder.

The doc says it is a 3rd degree separation and I am in a sling and doing the ice pack therapy thing. I am supposed to go to Jay Peak in 2 weeks, and then Park City at the end of March. Wondering if anyone has any experience with this type of injury, especially when it comes to recovery times. In other words, I am trying to figure out if I am screwed out of my trips, or if there is still hope. Either way injuries suck and I am depressed as hell because what is always a damn short season, just got that much shorter for me.

It always amazes me when people choose to ask those types of questions here instead of asking their doctor.
I mean what could a doctor possibly know about injuries and recovery times? Random people on the intertubes probably know best.

Here's a better question:

Are a few days on the snow worth taking the chance to injure yourself even more seriously?

I dislocated my shoulder a few years ago, but not to your extent, and recover was about 6 weeks for me. This included consistent gym time. If it's not too late, I would hold off on your trip. Shoulders are one of the most ridiculously finicky injuries I've ever had to deal with. Take the time to heal it right.

Different cases for different people. It's a conversation to have with your doc.

Best advice is to assume you will land on it. If its gunna set back recovery at all, don't go p

generally 4-6 weeks to heal. But it won't be 100%, it'll be weak, and need strengthening through physio. take it easy on your local groomer if you have trips planned!

I'm going to the Koots in a week, I certainly won't be a hero between now and then with the current conditions on the east coast (which are actually better than most years). But I'm 29, so maybe it's just my age that makes me think that way.

speedy recovery, i've had that injury about 5 years ago from soccer, made a full recovery, so hopefully no long term problems for you.

It always amazes me when people choose to ask those types of questions here instead of asking their doctor.
I mean what could a doctor possibly know about injuries and recovery times? Random people on the intertubes probably know best.

Here's a better question:

Are a few days on the snow worth taking the chance to injure yourself even more seriously?

Yeah..................I asked the doc and they said 4-6 weeks. I was just wondering what others had experienced with this type of injury and if it would be closer to four weeks, shorter, or maybe longer, especially with the trips that I have scheduled. My experience with docs is that they always give you the worst case scenario and yes, they are not perfect. For example, I hurt my ankle playing ice hockey a few years back and the doc said it would be one-two months before I would be able to skate again. Three weeks after the injury, I was skating perfectly fine.

Thanks for the input everybody. If I decide to go I will definitely be sticking to the groomers, and easy trails at that. It just blows to pay for trips and not be able to go shred. I am still young and tend to heal pretty quickly so I am jut going to follow the ice/heat regiment the doctor told me to use, rest up, and hope for the best.

Thanks for the input everybody. If I decide to go I will definitely be sticking to the groomers, and easy trails at that. It just blows to pay for trips and not be able to go shred. I am still young and tend to heal pretty quickly so I am jut going to follow the ice/heat regiment the doctor told me to use, rest up, and hope for the best.

Go to a therapist and ask for strengthening exercises as well. Your shoulder WILL fall out of its socket like nobodies business if you don't keep those muscles in good shape. In the long term, it should also help reduce/eliminate most long term pain.

PT is a must! Young or old!!! You want to be able to shred 5-10 years from now, right? I had same exact injury 5 yrs ago, 3rd deg sep, followed docs orders, did physio, no issues since. Blew my right knee out twice years before the shoulder injury, scoped 2 times, didn't do all I could/should have done, still have issues with the knee. Case and point. Young and invincible=sore knee. Old and....sum thin...wiser...no that's not it...anyways you get my point=shoulder good to go. Good luck and get well. If you do decide to go, which I probably would (see, definately not wiser!) take it easy and fall soft